Defense

[Randy]

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1638240-how-nfl-teams-are-transforming-defenses-to-stop-the-read-option

http://grantland.com/features/after-offseason-searching-nfl-coaches-know-how-defend-read-option/

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/keys-stopping-seahawks-read-option-offense-article-1.2098943

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap1000000233287/article/john-madden-nfl-defenses-will-attack-readoption-qbs

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1779940-how-are-defenses-countering-the-read-option-and-how-are-offenses-responding

http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2013/9/9/4710382/rg3-colin-kaepernick-russell-wilson-read-option-breakdown

[Randy]

According to this article, 16 teams use the zone blocking scheme, and 16 use man/power blocking. As far as 4-3 and 3-4 base defense, it says 20 teams use a 4-3 and 12 teams a 3-4 defense.

I went through the current NFL standings to compare the records of teams who use zone blocking to those who use power blocking. Of all the 1st place teams, 4 use zone and 4 use power. Of the 2nd place teams, 4 use zone and 4 power. The 3rd place teams, 4 zone - 4 power. The 4th place teams, 4 zone - 4 power.

For what it's worth, of the teams the Raiders have left to play this year, the Chiefs are a zone blocking team. The Panthers are zone, and the Chargers are power blocking.

http://nflsfuture.com/2012/03/28/team-by-team-offensivedefensive-schemes/

[Randy]

Linebacker Position

https://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2012/05/30/defensive-prototypes-linebackers/

[Randy]

What is the "A Gap"?
What does "two gap" mean?

What is a "3-Technique"?
How about a "2-Technique"?
or a "6-Technique"?
or even a "0-Technique"?

Answers:
http://www.footballoutsiders.com/strategy-minicamps/2005/defensive-line-basics-mind-gap

http://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2012/05/28/defensive-prototypes-defensive-line/

[Randy]

The Raiders and the Zone Blitz (2012 Season)
Asher Mathews, Thoughts from the Dark Side
http://network.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/play_action_the_raiders_and_the_zone_blitz/10927442

[Randy]

'Inside triangle' key to every team's 1st- and 2nd-down success on D
Pat Kirwan, CBS Sports
http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/story/19195136/inside-triangle-key-to-every-teams-1st-and-2nddown-success-on-d

[Randy]

Nnamdi Asomugha shows the fine points of playing man to man as a cornerback


<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/PdtK0zDY5_w" target="_blank" class="new_win">http://www.youtube.com/v/PdtK0zDY5_w</a>

[Randy]

Defenses
http://football.about.com/cs/a/defformations.htm

4-3 vs 3-4 Defense
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/356682/understanding_nfl_football_the_4_3.html?cat=14

Defensive Formations - The 3-4 Defense
http://football.about.com/cs/a/34defense.htm

Defensive Line Tactics
http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/5913846/Defensive-Line-Basics:-Mind-the-Gap

Cover 2 Defense
http://espn.go.com/ncf/columns/davie/1437187.html

Tampa 2 Defense
http://www.footballtimes.org/Article.asp?ID=167
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2271514

Diagrams of defenses and plays
http://www.football.com/playbook/defense.html